Black Members Of Congress Demand Probe Of Bananas Hanging From Nooses At University

American University student government president Taylor Dumpson, second from right, accompanied by Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., left, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, second from left, and others speaks during a n... American University student government president Taylor Dumpson, second from right, accompanied by Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., left, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, second from left, and others speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 4, 2017. Several bananas hanging from nooses were found on the AU campus on Monday, May 1, 2017, less than a day after Dumpson became the school's first black student body president. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) MORE LESS
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of Congress from a historically black sorority are calling for civil rights investigations into a racist incident at American University in Washington, where someone hung bananas from nooses.

The bananas hanging by nooses from trees and lampposts were found in at least five locations on campus on Monday, less than 24 hours after Taylor Dumpson became the school’s first black student body president.

The bananas included messages targeting the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, of which Dumpson is a member.

At a news conference outside the Capitol on Thursday, Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas called on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to denounce and investigate the incident. Lee and other members of Congress said President Donald Trump needs to speak out as well.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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